The Anglo-Saxon name Craybtree comes from when the family resided in the county of Yorkshire. Their name, however, indicates that the original bearer lived near a prominent crabtree.[1]CITATION[CLOSE]Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)

Early Origins of the Craybtree family

The surname Craybtree was first found in Yorkshire where "this is a great Yorkshire surname. It is odd to think that by dwelling beside a particular crab-tree, the descendants of a particular pair should so increase that a perceptibly large number of people in the county of York should now be familiarly known by the name." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)

The predominance of the name in Yorkshire is of little doubt. However, not all sources agree. Another source claims: "Crabtree is also a Lancashire name" [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print. and yet another notes that the name was derived from "a location name in Devon." [4]CITATION[CLOSE]Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.

Early census records may help in this search. "Depositions from York Castle" noted that John Crabtre and William Crabtree as residing there, but no dates were given. John atte Crabbetrywe was listed in Essex in 1301. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)

Early History of the Craybtree family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Craybtree research.Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1563, 1667, 1610, 1644, 1639, 1881, 1968, 1620 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Craybtree History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craybtree Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Craybtree has been recorded under many different variations, including Crabtree, Crabbtree, Craybtree, Crabbetree and many more.

Early Notables of the Craybtree family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include William Crabtree (1610-1644), English astronomer, mathematician, one of only two people to observe the first recorded transit of Venus in 1639. Born in the hamlet of Broughton Spout, Lancashire, he was also a mathematician and merchant. He is celebrated in one of the Manchester Murals... Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Craybtree Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Craybtree family to Ireland

Some of the Craybtree family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Craybtree family to the New World and Oceana

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Craybtree or a variant listed above: Edward Crabtree who was farming in Virginia in 1635.